Service Life:

Campaigns:

• Mahdist War 1881-1899, Sudan.
• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
• The Second World War 1939-1945, World-wide.

Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.

Detail :

"On 25 April 1915, while two companies of 2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers landed at X Beach just north of Cape Tekke at the tip of Gallipoli, four companies of 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers were ordered to land at W Beach, just south of Cape Tekke, where the shore ran south-east towards Cape Helles. The beach was only 350 yards wide and hemmed in by 100 foot high cliffs. The Turks, who had set up three rows of wire across it, lay hidden at the top of the cliffs. As the British boats reached the shore, the enemy opened a murderous fire. Sergeant A J Richards had his leg almost severed by gunfire but encouraged his men to press on. Somehow the British managed to get through the wire, and two companies under Captain R Willis and Major G S Adams attacked and captured the Turkish positions on Hill 114 behind Cape Tekke, which commanded W Beach from the north. It was in this assault that Lance Sergeant F E Stubbs, who was killed shortly afterwards, and Corporal J E Grimshaw distinguished themselves. Meanwhile, the survivors from the two other companies attempted to push towards Hill 138. The first attack failed and it was then that Private W Keneally took the almost suicidal decision to try and cut through the wire in front of it. He failed but remarkably he survived. Temporary Major C Bromley, the adjutant to Major H O Bishop, commanding the Battalion, also distinguished himself by his gallantry throughout the landing. Of the 1,000- strong force, only 400 came through the day. Major Bishop recommended six men for the VC but the War Office would only accept four nominations for a collective act of gallantry. The battalion was directed to recommend one officer, one NCO and two privates and the names of Willis, Richards, Keneally and Grimshaw were submitted. The first three were gazetted on 24 August 1915 but Grimshaw’s recommendation was rejected (he was awarded the DCM instead) on the grounds that, as a Lance Corporal, he was an NCO, not a private. Brigadier O C Wolley-Dod subsequently raised the issue with the Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, Lieutenant General Sir F J Davies, himself a Gallipoli veteran. Eventually Grimshaw, Stubbs and Bromley, were awarded the VC on 15 March 1917."

See also: VC Online.

Citations & Commemorations :

Masonic :

Mother Lodge is St John & St Paul but was only initiated in it before being excluded. It seems dues were then paid up before joining Invicta Lodge No. 2440 and being passed and raised. He then joined Mooltan Lodge No. 1307 8th March 1910, Lodge Light in the North No. 1308 in 1913 and then Lodge of Industry No 873, Hyderabad on 18th February 1914. Finally he joined Prince Albert Victor Lodge No. 2370, Lahore on 11th March 1920 and re-joined Lodge Light in the North on the 7th June 1920.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley